All purpose sales and sales rumors/anecdotes thread next gen+

[Wynix]

The same way you were asked for data others have been asked and its reasonable to think that some are talking to them.

Even Patcher has covered this a while back, nothing wrong with using them for historical data, just don't expect last month's numbers to be accurate.

I see no reason to use them for historical data when that is generally available from reliable or official sources.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I see no reason to use them for historical data when that is generally available from reliable or official sources.

It's not collated and made searchable from other official sources. One place that collects the data and presents it is valuable, which is why people use VGChartz (whether they should or not).

 

[zupallinere]

This just reenforces that I'm guessing at E3 they have to do something. At least an official price drop to 449 I think.

I'm not so much in the camp that current sales are any kind of official price cut. It's likely XO wholesale price is something like $470, so a gigantic retailer like Wal Mart temporarily pricing it at $449 (likely in hopes of making it back on high margin XO accesories etc at time of purchase) isn't crazy imo. Then you just had the normal retail climate kicking in, such as Amazon typically price matching other large retailers, and once two giants were in everybody had to follow suit. I'm not necessarily averse to the idea MS may be behind it (though my opinion is they're not). Only time will tell if it sticks longer than a week or so but to me they shouldn't go back..

Obviously the 450 dollar price will be around till the end of the quarter ( end of this month I assume ) but will we see this go back to 500 dollars April 1st ??

http://www.businessinsider.com/xbox-one-price-drop-2014-3

Depending on the data they get from these 450 dollar sales I can imagine they just might stick with the price and move on. You could argue it either way but I don't know that waiting till June at this point to officially drop the price to 450 is worth it now that folks see these prices and think; why not wait till the next itch by MS to boost sales ??

 

[DrJay24]

I'm not so much in the camp that current sales are any kind of official price cut. It's likely XO wholesale price is something like $470, so a gigantic retailer like Wal Mart temporarily pricing it at $449 (likely in hopes of making it back on high margin XO accesories etc at time of purchase) isn't crazy imo.

I think it is crazy. Do you have any supporting historical data of so many retailer offering the same discount at once during a non-holiday? Why don't they do it for the PS3, 360, Wii U - don't they offer high margin accessories and games? Why just the XB1 and why now? I think the honest and logical answer is they are getting a rebate from MS, the whole thing is a testing of the waters. Even if Walmart was doing some strange XB1 only sale at a loss in the hopes of selling over priced headset adapters, why is the official MS store doing the discount? The MS store is not in the business to compete against MS's retail partners and they certainly have no reason to price match.

 

[dobwal]

Its probably just a stealth cut to see if it creates a perceptible impact on sales. If it actually leads to a better sales rate than it becomes official. If it does very little to move the needle, then the Xb1 stays at $500 dollars until a bigger more impactful cut can be made.

Or it may just be temporary just to push down inventory or like someone else said, an end of the quarter push.

The fact that its unofficial allows a return to the original MSRP without much outcry of a price increase.

 

[Scott_Arm]

Are software sales really down, or is it just Gamestop being cut out of digital sales, and NPD being unable to track them? I have a feeling digital is taking off. The shopping experience at Gamestop is so shitty. That in itself will drive people to digital.

 

[Rangers]

Depending on the data they get from these 450 dollar sales I can imagine they just might stick with the price and move on.

I think it depends on their medium term plans. What price do they expect the XO to be at at the end of 2014?

I've been guessing all along their medium term price will be announced at E3, and if not at E3, then in the fall. Assuming they plan some kind of cut, which at this point seems assured, they seem dead without one.

From past discussions of other platform cuts, it seems I feel like 6 months might be a minimum cutoff for when early adopters wont demand compensation. Cut within 6 months and you probably owe early adopters some compensation. Middle of May is 6 months for XO. E3 is obviously past that, in early June. So that's why I've felt E3 might be the earliest they'd announce something official.

Anyways if they plan to end up at 399 in 2014, then I dont think you want to stagger and go to 449 then 399 later, because the more price cuts the more people will be upset who bought at a higher price. So do one cut to 399 rather than do it in two steps.

$449 with a game, I'm not even sure that's tenable. it may cause an initial burst, but after that will it still look like a bad deal next to PS4? Possibly so.

OTOH, $449 with a game is arguably kind of sort of parity with PS4, since you'll in theory need a game with PS4 (though you could just do F2P stuff).

Anyways, Microsoft definitely need to do something (whether Kinect is part of the long term plan is a huge issue also up in the air imo) and whatever it is, I assume E3 is where we'll learn about it. Should be fun.

 

[zupallinere]

I assume E3 is where we'll learn about it. Should be fun.

Compared to a fully stocked Next Gen E3 all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance. God help me I love it.

 

[RancidLunchmeat]

Anyways, Microsoft definitely need to do something (whether Kinect is part of the long term plan is a huge issue also up in the air imo) and whatever it is, I assume E3 is where we'll learn about it. Should be fun.

Why does MS need to do something? I'm missing the supporting evidence for your position. Everything I've read states that both the One and the PS4 are far ahead in terms of sales where the 360 or the PS3 were at this point and I think both Sony and MS can be pleased about how the last generation sales ended up.

We also know that both MS and Sony planned to not sell consoles at a loss this generation and aren't doing so, and that MS held the 360 at an absurdly high selling price for an even sillier amount of time.

If their sales figures are surpassing their projections, why would they reduce the price? Even if there's a sales gap between the One and the PS4? And even if that sales gap continues to grow? As long as their sales are of a large enough magnitude to continue to make the One relevant (and I think that's almost a given), what would be their motivation?

 

[Globalisateur]

Why does MS need to do something? I'm missing the supporting evidence for your position. Everything I've read states that both the One and the PS4 are far ahead in terms of sales where the 360 or the PS3 were at this point and I think both Sony and MS can be pleased about how the last generation sales ended up.

We also know that both MS and Sony planned to not sell consoles at a loss this generation and aren't doing so, and that MS held the 360 at an absurdly high selling price for an even sillier amount of time.

If their sales figures are surpassing their projections, why would they reduce the price? Even if there's a sales gap between the One and the PS4? And even if that sales gap continues to grow? As long as their sales are of a large enough magnitude to continue to make the One relevant (and I think that's almost a given), what would be their motivation?

The XB1 (hardware) absolute performance in itself is good. It's the relative performance vs PS4 which must worry them.

Most importantly third parties software aren't selling very good on XB1. It's not a good sign from the customers/market and they know it. That's why they react with free games and promotions.

 

[BoardBonobo]

And nothing is certain even with the current sales figures. The Dreamcast sold something like 11 million units but was still KIA.

 

[djskribbles]

Ya, this launch is unlike no other that I remember. Supply was far better than before. Hardcore fans will run out to buy one within the first few months. How they sustain sales is more important. There's no way in hell anyone is reaching PS2 numbers despite selling more in the first X months.

 

[DieH@rd]

X360/ps3 sold little over 80mil before their successors were released. I think PS4 and Xbone will sell closer to 100mil in a same time period.

As for reaching 150mil like PS2 did, that will never happen because of price. Sony managed to sell PS2 incredibly cheaply at the end.

 

[Wynix]

X360/ps3 sold little over 80mil before their successors were released. I think PS4 and Xbone will sell closer to 100mil in a same time period.

As for reaching 150mil like PS2 did, that will never happen because of price. Sony managed to sell PS2 incredibly cheaply at the end.

XB1 will not outsell the 360.

The PS4 will be easier to reduce costs than the PS3, though i don't expect an official price drop before mid next year.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

As for reaching 150mil like PS2 did, that will never happen because of price. Sony managed to sell PS2 incredibly cheaply at the end.

I wouldn't count on that. These consoles will get pretty cheap, 5 year+ down the line the HDD can be replaced with flash (already happened this gen), and there are emergent markets to sell to that are bigger than in PS2's days. The reason no console will sell PS2 numbers is more likely due to more balanced competition and maybe other CE devices cutting in, but if people still want consoles and if one can pull out a big lead, the market is larger than ever.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

I wouldn't count on that. These consoles will get pretty cheap, 5 year+ down the line the HDD can be replaced with flash (already happened this gen), and there are emergent markets to sell to that are bigger than in PS2's days.

I'm keen to see what miniaturisation plans Sony/Microsft/AMD have for the SOCs.

Sony have a good track record of making the PlayStation smaller, the final PS2 was crazily small compared to the original. Every time I look at my PS4 next to my Euro launch PS3 I still can't believe how small it is so I'm keen to see how small it'll be at EOL. A factor for my girlfriend getting her first PS2 (the small one) mainly because it was small enough to fit in her girly-sized entertainment centre.

 

[liolio]

Finally saw my first ps4 on the shelves yesterday, actually 2 of them.
First box I see since launch.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I'm keen to see what miniaturisation plans Sony/Microsft/AMD have for the SOCs.

Sony have a good track record of making the PlayStation smaller, the final PS2 was crazily small compared to the original. Every time I look at my PS4 next to my Euro launch PS3 I still can't believe how small it is so I'm keen to see how small it'll be at EOL. A factor for my girlfriend getting her first PS2 (the small one) mainly because it was small enough to fit in her girly-sized entertainment centre.

I expect a driveless version nearer EOL. Without a drive and with flash instead of HDD, a future console could maybe hit pocket sized.

 

[BoardBonobo]

Imagine a PS4 or xb1 just slightly larger than a vita. One that made calls as well.

Sent from my Xperia Z using Forum Runner

 

[Rangers]

I wouldn't count on that. These consoles will get pretty cheap, 5 year+ down the line the HDD can be replaced with flash (already happened this gen), and there are emergent markets to sell to that are bigger than in PS2's days. The reason no console will sell PS2 numbers is more likely due to more balanced competition and maybe other CE devices cutting in, but if people still want consoles and if one can pull out a big lead, the market is larger than ever.

Yep I agree. they're both well ahead of pace.

But it's the fact XO and PS4 will split the market to some degree (whether 70/30, 60/40 etc) will possibly prevent one of them from eclipsing PS2.

It's worth noting there is no Wii this time though, which is a huge chuck of sales up for grabs.

PS2-150m (granted many of these late in cycle)
Xbox-25
GC-25

Wii-100
PS3-80
X360-80

XB1 will not outsell the 360.

It's probably got a really good shot and again is ahead of pace so far by a large degree. After 3 months, 3.9m (shipped) vs 1.5m IIRC.

They're way way ahead in USA, I'd say the challenge is international sales appear down a bit, They'll need to goose those.

Also inflation marches relentless. 399 was kind of a high price at the start of last gen, now it's much more a mass market price imo, as we see with PS4. In real terms these consoles will be cheaper than last gen (especially once X1 goes <499).